Harry Wierda Reserve Playground | Oakden | Review

Harry Wierda Reserve Playground in Oakden features a toddler-sized playground, a separate playground for the bigger kids, and a gorgeous mural-filled shelter for picnics.

Review by Claire Davill

This expansive reserve has thoughtfully designed playgrounds for big and little kids, with accessible features, a full sized basketball court, tennis courts, a soccer field, and beautiful shady spots for barbeques or picnics.

There are two separate playground areas, both near the Sir Ross Smith Boulevard side of the reserve. The toddler playground is located adjacent to the picnic shelter, and is fully accessible via pathways and rubber soft fall, with a fantastic wheelchair accessible seesaw. The play equipment here is perfectly sized for toddlers, with low platforms, small slides and even a small climbing wall.

It’s so small, that our 10 year old reviewer couldn’t play on this equipment – see the photo below for scale!

There are two swings (one for toddlers), an in-ground trampoline, gentle soft fall mound and a low set spinning chair.

The adjacent picnic shelter is an old dairy building from when this area was part of the sprawling Beefacres Farm. It’s now refurbished with tables, beautiful murals, toilets and barbeques.

The playground for bigger kids is located on the other side of the picnic shelter, past the tennis courts and basketball court.

This playground consists of a large climbing net with a crows nest, and a large tube slide. The only way to access the slide is by climbing up the net. There are windows in some sections of the slide, so it doesn’t get too dark inside.

There’s also a fully accessible merry go round here, with room for a wheelchair, a seat, and grip bars at different heights.

There’s another in-ground trampoline here as well.

Behind the bigger playground is an area shaded by trees, with numerous picnic tables and barbeques. Further on, behind the nearby Meals on Wheels building, there is a large open lawned area with a soccer goal.

What we like about Harry Wierda Reserve:

• There’s separate playgrounds for smaller and bigger kids
• The large picnic shelter has beautiful murals inside
• There’s plenty of space to spread out, have a play, and have a picnic or barbeque

Things to consider:

• The playgrounds are partially fenced, with fences and latched gates along Sir Ross Smith Boulevard, which is the busiest road near the reserve. However, the playgrounds aren’t fully fenced.
• The picnic shelter can be hired, so it may not be available for use at all times. Information on how to hire the facility is found on the Port Adelaide Enfield website.
• Off-street parking is available on Arlington Court or Convent Terrace, with parallel parking on Sir Ross Smith Boulevard

Coffee and food options nearby

The Northgate Shopping Centre is a 3 minute drive or 6 minute walk away, with multiple cafes, takeaway shops and bakeries.

Location:

Sir Ross Smith Boulevard, Arlington Court or Convent Terrace, Oakden

For more information and all enquiries please visit the Port Adelaide Enfield website.

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (July 2026).

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